Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez heads to the dugout after striking out looking in the second inning in Game 1 on Saturday. / Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY Sports

by John Perrotto, Special for USA TODAY Sports

by John Perrotto, Special for USA TODAY Sports

DETROIT -- Alex Rodriguez might get body slammed by former World Wrestling Entertainment performer Torrie Wilson over the latest report on his personal life.

The New York Post reported that Rodriguez was openly flirting with two blonde female fans sitting near the New York dugout during Game 1 of the American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium last Saturday night.

Rodriguez had plenty of time on his hands Tuesday -- he was benched for Game 3 of the ALCS at Comerica Park as Eric Chavez started in his place at third base against reigning AL MVP and Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander.

The Post reported that he pulled one of the oldest tricks in the baseball handbook to picking up ladies by sending an autographed ball to them in the stands that included his phone numbers.

Unlike the regular season, clubhouses are closed to reporters prior to postseason games.

Rodriguez quickly made his way past reporters on his way to the field to warm up.

Girardi wanted no part of any potential A-Rod controversy when asked about the flirting incident during his pre-game press conference.

"I'm not going to comment on that," Girardi said.

When asked if the decision to bench Rodriguez was because there was something else involved than his performance, Girardi said "There are no other issues."

What makes the flirting report rather unseemly is that the Yankees were locked in a tight game during most of Game 1 against the Detroit Tigers and eventually lost 6-4 in 12 innings. It was scoreless game until the seventh inning and the Yankees were down 4-0 until they scored four runs in the bottom of the ninth to forced extra innings.

Detroit won the game with a two-run rally in the 12th, an inning in which Yankees shortstop and captain Derek Jeter suffered a broken left ankle. The Post reported that Rodriguez finally stopped his flirting once Jeter was injured and had to be carried off the field by manager Joe Girardi and head athletic trainer Steve Donohue while the crowd fell silent.

It was the second time Rodriguez did not start in the postseason as Chavez subbed for him in Game 5 of the AL Division Series against Baltimore Orioles right-hander Jason Hammel.

It is unknown whether Rodriguez eventually made contact with either female fan but he certainly hasn't made much contact at the plate in this postseason. He was 3-for-23 (.130) with 12 strikeouts heading into Game 3.

Rodriguez has been linked romantically to a number of celebrities since his marriage to Cynthia Scurtis ended in divorce in 2008, most notably Madonna, Cameron Diaz and Kate Hudson.

Along with Rodriguez, outfielder Nick Swisher was benched for Game 3, replaced by Brett Gardner, who batted leadoff and made his first start since April 17. Gardner had elbow surgery during the season.

Swisher is 4 for 26 with eight strikeouts this postseason.

"It's always a difficult decision when you have to do that," Girardi said. "And we talked about the dimensions here and we talked about fly ball pitcher today and we had some guys struggling, so we decided to make some changes.

"No one ever wants to sit out. They want to be there. But I told them they have to be ready, and they said we will be."